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(No Model.)

D. H. MAHAN. Boat Detaohing Apparatus. No. 231,675. Patented Aug.31,1880.

1521;:- Eleni or.- MKJW mi #mi NITED STATES DENNIS H. MAHAN, OF UNITEDSTATES NAVY.

BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,675, dated August31, 1880.

Application filed June 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, DENNIs H. MAHAN, alieutenant of the UnitedStates Navy, at present stationed at Vallejo, inthe State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Boat-Detaching Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. I

My invention has relation to that class of boat detaching apparatusspecially intended for detaching life-boats, though it is applicable toall manner of boats which are lowered by boat-falls or tackle fromshipboard or elsewhere; and the object thereof is.to produce a simple,cheap, durable, and automatically-operating detaching mechanism, whichmay be readily and easily applied to boats as now constructed, whichwill release the boat (if desired) as soon as its weight is supportedupon the water or elsewhere, and which may be used with other styles ofrigging about the boat.

To accomplish all of this the invention involves certain new and usefulcombinations or relative arrangements of parts or peculiaritiesofconstruction, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described,and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved box orframe intended to be fastened to the boat, the hook being shown in finelines as in proper position for securing the ring of the boat-fall, andin dotted lines in the position which it assumes when the boat isdetached. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hook detached from the blockand box, and indicating its general shape and construction. Fig. 3 is anelevation of the ring to be placed in the lower block of the boat-fall.Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box or frame shown in elevation atFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my improved locking-boltdetached from the box or frame. Fig. 6 is an axial section of same,showing the spring-actuated detent therein as elevated; and Fig. 7, asimilar view, showing detent depressed. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation,indicatingthe preferred position of the improved devices upon anordinary form of boat-fall, with its attaching-ring being shown at theleft.

Like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

A is the bed-plate or base of the box orframe, preferably made of castmetal, and provided with bolt-holes, as at a a, at suitable intervals,for connecting with the stern and stern-posts of the boat to which theapparatus is to be applied. Upon this base are mounted the two solidarms B B, each being pierced, as at G O, for the reception of theaxle-bolt, upon which the detaching-hook H is made to turn easily. At Dis a perforation or bolt-hole through the base, intended for couplingother styles of boatlowering apparatus, or for use in connection withthe rigging about the boat, as occasion may require.

One of the arms of each frame or box is perforated, as at e, for thereception of the locking-bolt, to be hereinafter described, and asindicated at Fig. 8, these perforations are in opposite arms of thepair, so as to bring both on the same side of the boxes when the latterare in proper place upon the boat.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the axle-bolt is located about on a line withthe front face of the upper part of the base, and the hook is formed,substantially as shown in Fig. 2, very large an (1' heavy at the top,with a reversed curve at back for the accommodation of thelockin g-bolt.By thus constructing the hook when locked in place its center of gravitywill remain a considerable distance to one side of the axle, and muchnearer the top of the hook than the bottom thereof.

The dotted line b b, Fig. 2, indicates the plane of the inner face ofthe hook, and c cthe face bearing upon the holding-ring when the latteris in place. To complete the hook, however, a third hearing, as on theline 3 y, is necessary, and this is furnished by the upper portion ofthe face of the base-plate, against which the point of the hook is madeto abut, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

F is the locking-bolt, made long enough to reach through one of the armsand to the other. It is recessed for the reception of a suitable detent,g, and this latter is mounted upon any suitable. form of springs h,resting upon the bottom of the recess and held against accidentaldisplacement by means of a pin, 19, made to pass through the metal ofthe bolt and through an elongated slot, 2', in the detent. The detent isso situated in the bolt as to bear against the inner face of theperforated arm through which the bolt passes, and its upper surface isinclined in both directions, as plainly shown, for the double purpose ofpermitting the bolt to be easily and quickly located in place, and aseasily withdrawn when occasion mayrequire, the springs h being strongenough to hold the detent against any accidental depression by which thebolt might be released when not in tended. The two bolts falling on thesame side of the base-blocks or boxes are each provided with chains orcords leading along the gunwale of the boat and to the stern-sheets,where they are provided with any suitable handles convenient for theoperator. The frames or boxes are intended to be mounted so as to bringthe tops of the hooks a little above the gunwale-lines, substantially asindicated at Fig. 8.

It has not been deemed necessary to represent the davits or other meansof supporting the boat herein, as such devices are well known and theuses of boat-attaching apparatus fully understood.

When the apparatus is constructed and arranged upon the boat,substantially in accordance with the foregoing explanations, itsoperation is as follows: The rings It on the falls beinglocated in thehooks,and the hookslocked by the locking-bolts, the boat is lowered bythe,

falls, and at the proper time the locking-bolts are simultaneouslywithdrawn, which is rendered easy by reason of the form of detent. Assoon as the boat rests upon the water or becomes water-borne the strainon the hooks is relieved, and these drop down by their own gravity,instantly disconnecting the boat from the falls.

Thus it will be seen that the operation of the device is automatic, andreleases the boat at the precise moment required-a decided advantageover such appliances as require the falls to be detached by the operatorat the time which he deems best. quently uncoupled before the boat iswaterborne, which results in overturning or damagin g the boat.

The rings may be quickly readjusted in the hooks and locked in place, aswill be apparent from a consideration of the construction.

When made as above explained the improved device is found to admirablyanswer the several purposes or objects of the invention, as previouslystated.

Having now fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a boat-detaching apparatus of the character herein set forth, thecombination, with the bolt adapted to lock the hook in place, of aseparate block-detent secured within said bolt upon springs at thebottom of the recess provided for it by means of a pin passing throughthe walls of the recess and through a vertically-elongated slot in thedetent, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein-described automatically-qwering boat-detaching apparatus,adapted to release the boat the instant it is water-borne, the samebeing composed of a box or frame having projecting arms in which thehook is axled, and having a projecting face about on a line with theaxle, a hook enlarged at top, as shown, a spring-detent operating tosecure the hook in the manner specified, and a ring connected with thefalls, all substantially as shown, and

for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two witnesses.

DENNIS H. MAHAN. Witnesses:

B. F. RINEHART, JOHN E. BROWNLIE.

Such devices are fre--

